Apparatuses and methods for transcleral cautery and subretinal drainage

Abstract

Apparatuses for transcleral cautery and subretinal drainage are provided. One such embodiment includes a barrel section, a needle section extending from the barrel section, and a scleral depressor section at least partially surrounding an intermediate portion of the needle section. A cautery section may also be defined between the scleral depressor section and the distal end of the needle section. Methods are also provided.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority to the copending U.S. provisional application entitled “Retinal Inserted Drainage / Cautery Apparatus,” having Ser. No. 60 / 276,068, and filed Mar. 15, 2001, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present invention is generally related to retinal surgery and, more particularly, is related to apparatuses and methods for transcleral cautery and subretinal drainage.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART[0003]In retinal surgery, for example to treat a retinal detachment condition, the time-honored approach to subretinal fluid drainage is a scleral cut-down from outside the eye (“ab externo”) making an opening large enough to visualize and cauterize the choroid. The scleral cut-down and the resulting large opening in the sclera are known as a sclerotomy. In this procedure, choroidal cautery (i.e., burning or searing of a penetrated portion of the choroid) is performed to minimize hemorr...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

One disadvantage of this more recently adopted procedure is that hemorrhage from the choroid occurs because, unlike in the older procedure, the choroid is not cauterized.

Although this modification may decrease the occurrence of hemorrhage from the choroid, it does not significantly minimize or eliminate it.

Thus, even when using the foregoing modified procedure, hemorrhage typically still occurs, and sometimes is severe.

Since subretinal blood can be very toxic to the retina, hemorrhage may result in markedly decreased vision, thus, limiting or defeating the effects of the retinal surgery.

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